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Val Edward Kilmer (born December 31, 1959, Los
Angeles, California, USA)  is a virile United
States|American actor considered by peers and fans
alike to be one of the most talented and
versatile, yet under appreciated actors currently
working in film.

==Overview== 
Known for roles as diverse as the Elvis-like teen
idol Nick Rivers in Top Secret! to real-life
legends Doc Holliday, cultural hero Robert Elliot
Burns, and rock idol Jim Morrison, to
larger-than-life characters Bruce Wayne/Batman and
Simon Templar, the Saint.  In the 2002 film The
Salton Sea, he plays Danny Parker, a jazz
trumpeter who infiltrates a group of crystal meth
addicts and becomes one himself in an attempt to
avenge the senseless death of his wife which they
caused.

==Career==
Born in Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles,
California, and raised in the San Fernando Valley,
Kilmer is one of three sons born to Gladys and
Eugene Kilmer, the others being older brother Mark
and younger brother Wesley.  When Val was 17 and
just about to start study as the youngest student
ever admitted to the Juilliard School of Fine Arts
in New York City|New York, Wesley tragically
drowned in the family's own swimming pool. 
Recently, Kilmer and director D. J. Caruso
explored the theme of loss together in their film
release The Salton Sea. Caruso also lost a brother
in a tragic accident.

Kilmer's ex-wife is Joanne Whalley, an actress and
former lead singer of Cindy & the Saffrons. The
two met while working together on the film Willow
(movie)|Willow.  They have two children, daughter
Mercedes and son Jack. Their marriage lasted from
March 1988 to February 1996. 

Kilmer is regarded as "difficult" by some in the
industry, such as directors John Frankenheimer
(The Island of Doctor Moreau), Ron Howard
(American director)|Ron Howard (Willow
(movie)|Willow) and Joel Schumacher (Batman
Forever).  Frankenheimer reportedly became so
angry that he had Kilmer physically escorted from
the set, later commenting "At my age there are two
things I will never do, climb Mount Everest or
work with Val Kilmer ever again!"  Many others who
have worked with Kilmer consider him a gifted,
dedicated artist with whom they would be happy to
work again. Many comment on his great enthusiasm,
high intelligence, and dedication to both the
roles he plays and the projects he is involved
with in general, although the adjective
"eccentric" continues to surface in descriptions
of the actor.

In 2004, Kilmer returned to the theatre to play
Moses in a Los Angeles musical production of The
Ten Commandments produced by BCBG founder Max
Azria. The production, which was not a critical
success, played the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Kilmer had already voiced Moses for The Prince of
Egypt. 

Recently, Kilmer was in negotiations with Richard
Dutcher (God's Army, Brigham City) for the lead
role in his 2005 film Prophet: The Story of Joseph
Smith. He was initially cast in the part and was
excited about playing the Mormon church founder,
but had to back out due to other acting
obligations. Following something of a decline in
his film career and a noticeable weight gain,
Kilmer is again looking fit and is starring in The
Postman Always Rings Twice on the London stage,
which is receiving excellent critical reviews as
are Kilmer and his costars.

==Partial filmography==
*Top Secret! (1984 in film|1984)
*Real Genius (1985 in film|1985)
*One Too Many (TV) (1985)
*Top Gun (1986 in film|1986)
*The Murder in the Rue Morgue (TV) (1986)
*The Man Who Broke 1000 Chains (TV) (1987 in
film|1987)
*Willow (movie)|Willow (1988 in film|1988)
*Hamlet (Colorado Shakespeare Festival) (1988)
*Kill Me Again (1989 in film|1989)
*Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid (TV) (1989)
*Doors_(movie)|The Doors (1991 in film|1991)
*Thunderheart (1992 in film|1992)
*Tis Pity She's A Whore (Joseph Papp Public
Theatre, New York) (1992)
*The Real McCoy (1993 in film|1993)
*True Romance (1993)
*Tombstone_(movie)|Tombstone (1993)
*Wings of Courage (IMAX) (1995 in film|1995)
*Dead Girl (1995)
*Batman Forever (1995)
*Heat (movie)|Heat (1995)
*The Island of Doctor Moreau (1996 in film|1996)
*The Ghost and the Darkness|The Ghost & the
Darkness (1996)
*The Saint (movie)|The Saint (1997 in film|1997)
*Africa Unbottled (TV documentary) (1998 in
film|1998)
*The Prince of Egypt (1998)
*At First Sight (1999 in film|1999)
*Joe the King (1999)
*Red Planet (2000 in film|2000)
*Pollock (movie)|Pollock (2000)
*Run For the Money (TV) (2002 in film|2002)
*The Salton Sea (2002)
*Wonderland (movie)|Wonderland (2003 in film|2003)
*Spartan (2004 movie)|Spartan (2004 in film|2004)
*Mindhunters (2004)
*Alexander (movie)|Alexander (2004)

==Upcoming projects==
*Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang (2005 in film|2005)
*Delgo_(movie)|Delgo (2005)
*A License to Steal (2005)

==External links==
* http://www.valkilmer.com/ Kilmer's Official
website
*imdb name|id=0000174|name=Val Kilmer
* http://www.vkn.com/ The Val Kilmer Newsletter